“Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.” Neil Armstrong. Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809 and grew up to be a very successful and talented writer. Sadly, he died on October 7, 1849 but no one knows for sure how. There are many theories as to how Poe died but one sticks out over many others, a brain tumor. One reason that supports this theory is that twenty six years after Edgar Allan Poe’s death, his body was exhumed. One of the sextons at the grave site caught a peek at his body. He reported that he saw what he thought to be Poe’s shrunken brain. He also said that he heard it rattling around in his skull. It is very likely that what the sexton thought to be a brain, was actually a brain
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A week before Poe was found, he was on his way to Philadelphia, but was told not to travel by a doctor. One reason Poe’s doctor may have not wanted him to travel is because brain tumors can cause seizures. Brain tumors cause difficulty walking, muscle weakness, problems with coordination, weakness of one side of the body, or weakness of the arms and legs. That would explain that when he was found, he could hardly move. There are some things that people could find wrong with this theory. One of the things people could ask is, “What if the object seen in his head actually was his brain?” The answer is that it would be impossible for the brain to still be there. After people die, the brain is the first to liquefy, and it was 26 years later that the body was exhumed.
In conclusion, Edgar Allan Poe’s cause of death was a brain tumor. When his body was exhumed 26 years after he died, one of the sextons saw what looked like a round ball in his skull. It had to be a brain tumor because the brain is the first to deteriorate in the body. Another reason that supports this theory is that he showed symptoms of personality/behavior change and mental confusion. He also showed evidence of unusual bodily functions. Many people will never stop wondering about how Edgar Allan Poe died and they will never lose the desire to
A week before Poe was found, he was on his way to Philadelphia, but was told not to travel by a doctor. One reason Poe’s doctor may have not wanted him to travel is because brain tumors can cause seizures. Brain tumors cause difficulty walking, muscle weakness, problems with coordination, weakness of one side of the body, or weakness of the arms and legs. That would explain that when he was found, he could hardly move. There are some things that people could find wrong with this theory. One of the things people could ask is, “What if the object seen in his head actually was his brain?” The answer is that it would be impossible for the brain to still be there. After people die, the brain is the first to liquefy, and it was 26 years later that the body was exhumed.
In conclusion, Edgar Allan Poe’s cause of death was a brain tumor. When his body was exhumed 26 years after he died, one of the sextons saw what looked like a round ball in his skull. It had to be a brain tumor because the brain is the first to deteriorate in the body. Another reason that supports this theory is that he showed symptoms of personality/behavior change and mental confusion. He also showed evidence of unusual bodily functions. Many people will never stop wondering about how Edgar Allan Poe died and they will never lose the desire to